The following symptoms and complaints may indicate genital herpes infection:
Leading symptoms in the affected skin area
- Pruritus (itching)
- Feeling of tension
- Burning pain
- Blistering*
- Formation of small, moist and painful ulcers* (ulcers).
- (skin ulcers)
- High fever
- Lymphadenopathy – swelling of local/regional lymph nodes.
- Increased vaginal fluoride (vaginal discharge).
* Mainly in the area of the external genitalia, cervix (cervix) and urethra (urethra); also possible on the inner thigh, buttocks, perineum or perianal skin (herpes analis).
Note: In case of maternal primary infection in the last 4 weeks before birth, the neonatal risk of infection (of the newborn) is about 40-50%; in the first trimester (third trimester of pregnancy), the neonatal risk of infection is only 1%.
In recurrent genital herpes, the following symptoms indicate a subsequent new onset of disease:
- Pruritus* (itching).
- Hyperesthesia (increased sensitivity of the affected region) or neuralgia* (nerve pain).
- Pain*
- General feeling of illness
* Prodromal symptoms (precursor symptoms) that occur hours or days before a herpes episode.
Only circa 30% of infections present with the above symptoms.
In men, they often appear on the penis, in women in the vaginal area. However, the urethra can also be affected in both sexes.
Symptoms usually persist for up to three weeks in the primary infection.
The extent of symptoms depends on the immune status, age, and type of infection (initial infection or reactivation), among other factors.
